Elmer Snyder Obituary

Elmer A. Snyder, 90 of Cowansville, died June 14, 2006, at Armstrong County Memorial Hospital, East Franklin Township, surrounded by his family members.He was born Oct. 4, 1915 in Cowansville to Clarence R. and Maude (Stouffer) Snyder.He was a 1935 graduate of Kittanning High School.This gave him a solid foundation to start a successful business career by co-founding in 1941 with his brother, Charles Sr., what was to grow into Snyder Associated Companies, Inc. based in Kittanning. Snyder Associated Companies started small as a construction company and later moved into the natural resource recovery business during World War II, by mining much needed coal to fuel the war effort. The company later expanded into sand, gravel and limestone mining through its subsidiaries, Glacial Sand & Gravel Co. and Allegheny Mineral Corporation, an oil and gas exploration and production company known as Snyder Brothers, Inc., cement and concrete products manufacturer, Armstrong Cement & Supply Corp. and The Bauer Company, Inc., a worldwide (as well as local) agricultural products company, Sylvan Inc. and Creekside Mushrooms, Ltd., the banking industry with The Farmers National Bank of Kittanning, a hospitality business known as the Quality Inn Royle, a Florida-based equipment distribution company known as Highway Equipment & Supply Company, and a national oil field service company, Superior Well Services Inc., employing approximately 2,500 men and women.He was a lifelong resident of the community and a lifelong member of the Union First Presbyterian Church in Cowansville, where he served as an elder on the local church?s governing board.He had a strong belief in his community stemming from his experience as a Boy Scout during his youth. He has prescribed and lived by all of the principals of the Scout Oath and Law. As an adult leader, he served on the Executive and Advisory Boards of the then Pioneer Trails Council, B.S.A. He served on the Board of Directors of the Armstrong County Memorial Hospital and as a director and past chairman of the Armstrong Health and Education Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Hospital.Elmer was active in the political community as well.He served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1968. Close friends to many, in all of the political parties, he worked together with local, state and federal leaders on many important issues facing our community.He was a member of the Trimble Lodge 117 Free and Accepted Masons, Cherry Hill, N.J., the New Castle and Coudersport Consistories, the Syria Shrine and Caravan 22, where he served as president in 1974. He received the 33rd and last degree of the Free Masonry from the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction in 2000, something he was very proud of. He was also a life member of the BPOE Elks Lodge in Kittanning.A true believer in higher education, Elmer and his wife, Annabelle, established a perpetual scholarship fund in 1985 for students residing in Armstrong County. These scholarships are given out annually to three or four graduating seniors.He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who enjoyed spending holidays and weekends with his family at the Snyder Ranch.He was a member of the Kittanning Country Club and the Country Club of Orlando, where he enjoyed playing golf. He also enjoyed playing cards, world travels and spending winters in Florida with his wife.However, he found business to be his true passion, attributing his "secret to success" as hard work. He played an active role in the business he co-founded up until a few months ago.Survivors include three sons, Thomas C. Snyder and wife Debra of Cowansville, David E. Snyder and wife Sandra and Mark A. Snyder and wife Carolyn all of Kittanning; 10 grandchildren, Bryan Snyder and wife Renee of Bradford, Rebekah Starr and husband Mike of Kittanning, Anne Snyder of Denver, Col., Andrew Snyder of Cowansville, Benjamin, Gretchen, and Michael Snyder of Kittanning, Marsha and Alisha Snyder of Pittsburgh, and Kelly Snyder of Naples, Fla.; and four great-grandchildren, Sydney, Skylar, Brayden and Alexis Snyder of Bradford; one brother, Clarence R. Snyder Jr. of Cowansville; and one sister, Margaret (Snyder) Bowser of New Brighton.He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, the late Annabelle C. (Claypoole) Snyder; his parents, Clarence R. and Maude (Stouffer) Snyder; and three brothers, W. James, Charles Sr., and Walter Snyder.Friends will be received from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Union First Presbyterian Church of Cowansville, where funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, with his pastor, the Rev. Mary Marks King, officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Haven Burial Estates, East Franklin. Memorial contributions may be made to the Armstrong Health and Education Foundation, One Nolte Drive, Kittanning, 16201, or the Union First Presbyterian Church Trust Fund, P. O. Box 217, Cowansville, 16218. Arrangements by Snyder-Crissman Funeral Home of Kittanning.